Inmate Death At Jessup Prison Deemed A Homicide: Police

JESSUP, MD — A prison inmate from Suitland was found dead in his cell at a state prison in Anne Arundel County and Maryland State Police are investigating the case as a homicide.

The inmate, identified as Javon Foster, 38, of Suitland, was serving time at the Jessup Correctional Institution. According to Maryland online court records, Foster was sentenced to prison after being charged with armed robbery and first-degree assault.

Foster was pronounced dead by emergency medical service personnel and was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy to determine cause and manner of death.

At 7:25 p.m. on Sunday, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigative Unit about an inmate death, according to a news release.

The preliminary investigation indicates Foster was found on the floor of his cell, where he was pronounced dead. Police believe Foster’s cellmate was in the cell at the time of his death, according to the state police news release.

State Police Homicide Unit investigators are investigating. Assistance is being provided by State Police crime scene technicians and investigators with the DPSCS Internal Investigative Unit.